Leavenworth couple awarded for holiday home decorations

Ed Vineyard said it generally takes him two to three weeks to put up Christmas lights and other decorations on the outside of his north Leavenworth home.

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The Leavenworth Times - Leavenworth, KS

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Posted Dec. 26, 2013 at 8:00 AM

Posted Dec. 26, 2013 at 8:00 AM

Ed Vineyard said it generally takes him two to three weeks to put up Christmas lights and other decorations on the outside of his north Leavenworth home.

But, he does it every year for good reason: Children like seeing the display.

"I enjoy watching them when they come by," he said.

Vineyard said he sees children pointing at his Christmas decorations.

This year, Vineyard's efforts putting up lights and other decorations paid off with an award from the city of Leavenworth.

He and his wife, Pam, won the Leavenworth Home Decorating Contest, sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department and Leavenworth Police Department.

Vineyard and his wife live at 605 N. 13th St.

Vineyard said he's never counted his decorations, but he estimates his display has between 3,000 and 5,000 lights. The yard around the home includes between 20 and 25 blowup decorations, and other displays.

His Christmas decorations include Santa Claus fishing from a pond in the back yard.

Vineyard said he's been decorating the house for 15 or 16 years.

"It's grown a little since then," he said.

He said dog, bear and penguin decorations on the south of his residence are some of his favorites because they were among the first ones purchased.

Vineyard said his wife helped with putting up the decorations.

Before Vineyard retired, it took closer to two months to finish decorating his house for Christmas.

Vineyard's home was nominated for the Leavenworth Home Decorating Contest by a member of the Leavenworth Police Department, who works a midnight shift, Officer Kevin Metzgar said.

The award was presented Friday.

Vineyard said he and his wife received a first-place plaque with a Christmas ball on top.

"It's kind of cute," he said of the plaque.

Vineyard said he generally waits a day or two after Christmas before taking down his decorations.

"It depends on the weather," he said.

This was the fourth year for the Leavenworth Home Decorating Contest.

Entries are judged each year by staff from Parks and Recreation and the Police Department, city spokeswoman Melissa Bower said.